Web Cam Advice

Oscar

My 14yr old son would like a web cam for part of his Christmas but I am finding the choice a nightmare. We are considering one of the two featured below. He will use it mainly with MSN.

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/133280/art/logitech/quickcam-messenger-plus-w.html

or

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/34115/art/logitech/webcam-quickcam-pro-4000.html

The most obvious difference is the price coupled with the fact that we will also have to buy a headset with the second which is the more expensive. The reason we have chosen these two is really because I was going to buy the first in a shop today at a cost of £40. The 2nd was priced a lot dearer too and outwith the budget but as it is cheaper here it now falls within the budget.

Any advice would be welcome!

intel

I Bought this one Creative Just make sure you get summet with 30FPS = 30 Frames Per Second or it will look all jumpy.

scottishf

ive got the creative one same as intel......and the quality is really good

belfastgal

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http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/133280/art/logitech/quickcam-messenger-plus-w.html

i have this one and my children use it with msn ....its very good.....think i paid £30 in dixons for it.....

matty_c608

belfastgal, IMO, that's a crap webcam :P

Don't mean to be critical!!

Hw much are you willing to spend?

I got mine FREEE!! It's a Logitech QuickCam Zoom, retail at the time was about £70! it wasn't a freebie anyone can get though, so I'm not gona explain it here...

thesealeyboy

intel wrote:

I Bought this one Creative Just make sure you get summet with 30FPS = 30 Frames Per Second or it will look all jumpy.

Don't forget a slower internet connection can also cause this, assuming the user is not on broadband.

intel

thesealeyboy wrote:

Don't forget a slower internet connection can also cause this, assuming the user is not on broadband.

Yeah I knew this but not much point in mentioning... as If yer on dial-up
I wouldnt even consider getting a webcam, you might aswell send photos.


:xmassign: :xmassign: :xmassign:

matty_c608

The average Home Connection is not fast enough to upload 30FPS Video completely smoothly!

You'll need a 512 upload for that. At most a home connection maybe 348!

intel

matty_c608 wrote:

The average Home Connection is not fast enough to upload 30FPS Video completely smoothly!

You'll need a 512 upload for that. At most a home connection maybe 348!

Errr how do you mean as my lowest connection was 512kb
now its 2mb 30fps no problem.


:xmassign:

wolfman

intel wrote:

Errr how do you mean as my lowest connection was 512kb
now its 2mb 30fps no problem.

He's talking about upstream. An adsl connection has two directions that data travels in, upstream and downstream. Your 2mbps is the downstream, this is what has been increasing recently, I've now got an 8mbps connection.

However, the upstream is usually around 256kbps, or maybe at a push 384kbps. Anything higher (ie a 1mbps or 2mbps upstream) and you're talking a lot of money, or going in the direction of sdsl.

You may get a smooth output, it depends what quality you're streaming the web feed at.